Police Surprise Mother Who Left Toddler In Car For Pasta

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:00]On May 3rd, 2021, officers responded to a call in reference to a welfare check in a public's parking lot. A customer had flagged down an employee after discovering an infant alone and unsupervised in a vehicle.

[00:00:14]>> She wasn't crying whenever I came out.

[00:00:16]She's >> I just wanted to ask to make sure.

[00:00:18]>> Yeah, she's okay. I know she's fine.

[00:00:20]>> All right. Would you mind? Would you mind? Hey, >> I mean I you did check on her.

[00:00:25]>> Would you mind just sitting by my car?

[00:00:27]>> Yes.

[00:00:29]I just would prefer to keep her in there cut the air condition.

[00:00:31]>> That's fine. That makes sense. That's why I just want to make sure before I talk to everybody.

[00:00:36]>> Okay. Hi there. I just don't want everybody to hear each other. That's all.

[00:00:42]>> No, you can come here.

[00:00:44]>> M Eminem M&M's are the best.

[00:00:47]>> Um No, I wish I could take I'm sorry, sweetheart. I can't.

[00:00:51]>> Um so, so what happened? So, what did you see?

[00:00:53]>> So, I the car is very loud. So, I took notice of the car. I went in. and I did my shopping. I came back out and when I was coming this way, I noticed there was movement in the car and I was looking and I'm like, there's a baby in the car.

[00:01:06]>> How much time had passed between >> I had gone in, done some shopping, my alarm went off at 4, I don't know, something like that. I was in there at least 15 minutes. She read a book. um came back out, noticed the baby in the car, and then I was I loo tried to look in the cart enough to see if there was anybody else in the car, and then I got the people from Publix over here. They went in and got their manager, and then their manager So, I mean, it's been a while.

[00:01:35]>> How How long do you think?

[00:01:37]>> At least 30 minutes.

[00:01:38]>> Okay.

[00:01:39]>> You know, since I got here, at least.

[00:01:41]>> Okay. All right.

[00:01:42]>> I mean, you just cannot leave your baby in a car.

[00:01:45]>> I understand the concern. Absolutely.

[00:01:46]>> You can't.

[00:01:47]>> You would get in more trouble with a dog.

[00:01:50]You don't leave them in the bar either.

[00:01:51]The worst thing is when she came out she was all happy and excited and like like you know hi everything's fine.

[00:01:58]>> Yeah.

[00:01:59]>> And it's like do you do that at a bar too? Do you you know do this often? I'm like this is the concern area of the world. You don't leave your child in a bar.

[00:02:08]>> I understand your concern.

[00:02:10]>> But isn't it >> also illegal?

[00:02:12]>> Yeah. There's very specific statute on >> Oh my god.

[00:02:15]>> neglect. So >> Okay.

[00:02:17]>> I'm still trying to figure everything out. Okay.

[00:02:19]>> Thanks.

[00:02:19]>> All right. Who was the uh public's employee that helped you out?

[00:02:22]>> Uh the the manager lady, not him. That's the other manager, but it was the blondhaired manager lady.

[00:02:27]>> Okay.

[00:02:29]>> You think it was about 30 minutes of beer?

[00:02:31]>> At least 30 minutes. Yeah.

[00:02:32]>> You said the car was running during the >> car is running. The car is running the whole time, but she's also drinking a bottle.

[00:02:38]>> Baby's choked.

[00:02:39]>> Anybody there to help?

[00:02:40]>> Well, it should have been left alone in the park. Not at all, but >> All right. Do you have your ID with you?

[00:02:44]>> Yeah.

[00:02:46]If you want to check on her, you don't have to stay by the car. I just like to keep everybody's psych separate to avoid arguments.

[00:02:52]>> Thank you. Yeah, I definitely was not trying to argue with her.

[00:02:54]>> No, you're fine. Um, but yeah, if you want to check on her, that's fine.

[00:02:59]>> Um, really quick, um, so how long do you think you were shopping for?

[00:03:03]>> I I wasn't even in there for more than 5 minutes. Like, it really was not that long. I watched her come out. Like, I literally watched that lady come out and then I ran in and I just got a handful of things. Like I wasn't I was not in there that long.

[00:03:16]>> 5 minutes is like your best guess.

[00:03:17]You're thinking >> I'd like 5 to 7. Like not more than not close to 10. I don't even think like it was not that long.

[00:03:25]>> So that's why like I genuinely didn't think anything was going to happen. But I also didn't know that it was against the law. So >> well it's not that simple >> but there is statute against obviously um >> like in my head I'm like okay the car's on AC's on I know she's good like so that's what I was thinking I parked closed the store I was trying to go as fast as possible >> take a deep breath we'll cover all this in a second right now I'm just getting everybody's contact information >> um but we can go over We'll go over what happened, what could have happened, and what should have happened in a second. Okay.

[00:04:04]>> I just hit tight. How's it going, guys?

[00:04:06]>> Good, man. How are you?

[00:04:07]>> I'm doing okay.

[00:04:09]>> Um, I don't know how long the baby was in there or not. One of our associates was one that called.

[00:04:13]>> Okay.

[00:04:13]>> Um, but just FYI, she actually noticed the girl and said, "Okay, there's potentially a DCF case open already on her."

[00:04:20]>> Okay.

[00:04:21]>> So, that might be something.

[00:04:22]>> If you had to guess what that was had to do with, what do you think that was? Um, all I know is that it's most likely like her baby daddy's family is like coming out to get them. So, she can't like post anything that has to do with the baby cuz >> Okay.

[00:04:37]>> You know, >> saying, but we can we have cameras. So, maybe we can give you a timeline of how long.

[00:04:43]>> That would be helpful. Yeah. Cuz I was given two very different times.

[00:04:47]>> My assistant's in there right now. I'll go get with him and I'll get exact time.

[00:04:50]>> Yeah. Roughly what time she went in, what time she came out. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.

[00:04:55]>> Um, that would be very helpful.

[00:04:56]>> They were arguing, so I guess the associate called the lady that witnessed it, said, "Can you please call 911 right now?" She left the baby in the car. So, >> all right.

[00:05:06]>> Okay.

[00:05:07]>> All right. Timeline real quick.

[00:05:09]>> Thank you guys. I really appreciate it.

[00:05:10]>> Oh, absolutely.

[00:05:11]>> Good news.

[00:05:13]Not many of them do.

[00:05:14]>> We appreciate it. It helps us out a lot.

[00:05:17]>> Deputies found the baby secured in a car seat, alert and conscious without issue.

[00:05:22]The vehicle had been left running with the air conditioning on. The outside temperature was 84° F. Public surveillance footage showed King had left the vehicle at 4:17 p.m. and returned at 4:26 p.m. approximately 9 minutes.

[00:05:40]>> I want to ask you about what happened in detail. Okay? And because of the nature of this call and the potential for it to be criminal, >> okay, >> I want to read you your rights before I ask you anything.

[00:05:53]>> Okay.

[00:05:54]>> All right. Well, that's just how these things go. If there's any chance that a crime could have been committed, we can't talk to you about it unless we read you your rights. Okay. All right.

[00:06:06]All right. So, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, maybe use evidence against you. You have the right to talk to an attorney. Have him or her with you now or anytime during questioning.

[00:06:16]If you cannot afford an attorney, won't be appointed to represent you. If anytime you wish to stop talking or have an attorney present, all questioning will be stopped at your request. Do you understand these rights?

[00:06:26]>> Yes, sir.

[00:06:26]>> With these rights of mind, are you willing to talk to me?

[00:06:28]>> Okay.

[00:06:29]>> Well, I Yeah, I guess. I mean, is that what I'm supposed to say? It's just that >> it's entirely up to you. I >> I don't I mean, I understand the aspects of everything, but it's like I don't think it's enough criminal to take you to jail. So, it's like I I hope that it's going to be >> But it's important that if I ask you about any of this that you understand these rights.

[00:06:47]>> Yeah.

[00:06:48]>> You understood what I what I read you.

[00:06:49]>> Yeah.

[00:06:50]>> And with those rights in mind, are you willing to talk to me about it?

[00:06:53]>> Yes, I am.

[00:06:54]>> Okay. All right. So, I understand when I got here, you said you just ran inside really quick. You were doing some shopping.

[00:07:04]Walk me through it. You came here. I don't know. What did you come for? What was going on? Would you mind walking me through it? I picked her up from daycare and I just needed to pick up some pasta and some and another option for dinner.

[00:07:17]My fiance wanted some pasta, so I picked up some pasta and then I was getting something for dinner as well.

[00:07:22]>> He does construction, so he just wanted something to fill up his stomach. So, I was just getting pasta really quick and then I was getting something for dinner.

[00:07:29]So, I just ran in there and I was um figuring out what I was going to get for dinner after I got the pasta. And I figured it out really quick. And then I was waiting at checkout for for just a little bit to for a line like just waiting to see what would clear up. And then I went to the checkout line.

[00:07:46]>> Okay. How much time do you think the whole thing took?

[00:07:50]>> At most like maybe at most maybe 10 minutes and that's like really like I wouldn't say anything more than that.

[00:07:57]And it's like I was thinking less than 10, but it's like I'm saying maybe 10 just like with waiting like waiting for a spot and stuff.

[00:08:06]>> What would you guess would be a reasonable amount of time if you had to leave your kid alone in the parking lot like that? What do you think would be a right amount of time?

[00:08:14]>> I try and like I would like want it to be like at least like not less than 10, like five at most, you know, like nothing like really quick in and out.

[00:08:26]You understand the vulnerability of I understand the car is locked. I can tell you right now if that car was locked I don't want to get inside. I'd be inside that car in less than 10 seconds.

[00:08:38]>> And that's why I know Yeah. I mean if anybody wanted to take her, of course.

[00:08:42]Yeah. They would have they would have if with it being locked, they would have found a way 100%. But it was locked and the air condition was on. So I did try and make sure it was as safe as possible.

[00:08:54]>> All right. But you understand why someone driving by would be concerned.

[00:08:59]>> 100%.

[00:09:00]>> Okay.

[00:09:00]>> I 100%. That's why whenever she was talking to me, I mean, you saw she was coming at me very aggressive and I wouldn't argue with her cuz I understood where she was coming from. I totally get it.

[00:09:13]>> And that's why I'm a little emotional right now because the idea of anything happening to my daughter is obviously very like traumatizing. So, it's just a scary thought.

[00:09:25]Okay. Um, >> so you picked up from daycare. You came here.

[00:09:30]>> Yes.

[00:09:31]>> You needed another ingredient for dinner was pasta and something else.

[00:09:36]>> Yeah.

[00:09:36]>> You parked here. You immediately walked inside.

[00:09:38]>> Mhm.

[00:09:40]>> You were in there, got what you needed, went came to the register. You think it was no more than 10 minutes?

[00:09:45]>> No more than 10 minutes.

[00:09:46]>> Is that what you planned on? I planned on being planned on it being less, but I wasn't sure exactly like everything that I was going to get. So, as soon as I figured out what I was going to get, I had to run to the other side of the store cuz I got put chicken for fajitas, the stuff for that that is on this side of the store. So, I had to go all the way back to this side and that's what took me the longest. So, yeah, I just ended up having to go all over the store.

[00:10:10]>> And what was the condition of the vehicle when you left? I left it on with the air conditioner on locked and I had her cocoa melon plane and she had her her sippy cup. So that's all.

[00:10:24]>> And it was on parked right here.

[00:10:26]>> So you kept So there the key was turning the ignition and you had your own backup key.

[00:10:30]>> I don't have a backup key.

[00:10:32]>> So how were you to unlock it?

[00:10:34]>> Um um this this door doesn't lock. My front door actually doesn't lock. This one.

[00:10:43]>> So if you Is it broken?

[00:10:45]>> It's a little messed up.

[00:10:47]>> Yes.

[00:10:48]>> So there there's not an option to lock the front door.

[00:10:51]>> Not this one, but the rest of them do.

[00:10:53]>> All right.

[00:10:55]So me painting this whole picture together, just to be clear, she was in the car and the car was running with the front door, the driver's seat unlocked.

[00:11:04]>> Yes, sir.

[00:11:06]>> So essentially at any moment, anybody could have got in the car and drove off with a brand new car and a child. They could have, >> but for all we knew, maybe they just wanted the car and not even realize that she's in the back seat.

[00:11:15]>> Yeah, >> that's happened before.

[00:11:17]>> Yeah.

[00:11:19]>> I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be emotional.

[00:11:23]>> You You just You understand the picture I'm painting to how this could have resulted.

[00:11:27]>> I'm 100%.

[00:11:29]>> All right. Did anything change from your conversation?

[00:11:32]>> Okay.

[00:11:34]>> All right. You said your fiance's at home.

[00:11:36]>> No, he's not. He's at work right now.

[00:11:38]>> Till till when? Um, he's been her since her birthday's in June, he's working late hours. He was going to have me make the pasta and he was going to pick it up and go back to work. So, >> all right, that's fine. We can figure that out.

[00:11:52]>> He's probably wondering why I haven't called him, wondering why why the pasta is made on >> We got to contact him. For now, I need you to put your things down.

[00:12:01]>> Okay.

[00:12:01]>> I need to put your bag and your drink on the car. Okay.

[00:12:03]>> Okay.

[00:12:04]>> Including your your bag here. I got I need you to put your hands behind your back. Okay, my phone's going to die.

[00:12:10]>> We'll figure that out. We'll figure that out.

[00:12:17]>> Heavy.

[00:12:31]>> All right. Do you have anything on you besides your phone? Is there anything sharp on you?

[00:12:34]>> No, sir. Only my phone's on me. Oh, well, my earrings, of course, but that's it. Okay. All right. Who can take care of her if you come with us?

[00:12:43]>> My fianceé can come home from My fiance will have to come from work and that I don't my my mom's dead. Like I don't have anybody except for him.

[00:12:52]>> All right. I need you to come back this way. Okay. Would you mind just sitting with um with her?

[00:12:59]All right. I just need you to lean up against the back of the vehicle here.

[00:13:03]>> All right. Spread your feet, please.

[00:13:05]Yes, sir.

[00:13:05]>> I'm going to take your phone out.

[00:13:06]>> Yeah.

[00:13:10]All right.

[00:13:31]All right. I'm going to get the AC moving back here. So, it may be hot right now, but it's not going to be in a second. Yeah.

[00:13:39]>> I don't know his number by heart. So, >> is it in your phone?

[00:13:42]>> It is, but it's on 2%. So, if you want me to unlock it, you can write it down real quick.

[00:13:46]>> Oh, it's about to put a minimum.

[00:13:49]>> Sorry.

[00:13:56]Okay, >> that's it right there.

[00:13:57]>> Yes.

[00:13:58]>> All right. Just sit tight real quick.

[00:14:01]We're going to have to call her fiance.

[00:14:04]She's got 2%. So, I'm going to call him my phone.

[00:14:07]Hello.

[00:14:09]Hi. This is Deputy Summers of Fire County Sheriff's Office.

[00:14:13]Hi there. I believe I'm here with your fiance. Um I'm sorry, sir. Can I get your name?

[00:14:21]This is uh De Summers Fire County Sheriff's Office. I'm calling in reference to somebody we arrested moments ago and she has a child with her and this is the number I was given this contact about who may be able to pick up the child.

[00:14:39]Uh, the reason we arrived was because the child was left unattended in the vehicle. Um, after reviewing the footage for the store, it was determined that um, she was going to be charged with child neglect.

[00:14:56]It is. We're here with the car and we're here with the little one.

[00:15:01]I'm sorry.

[00:15:04]No, we're at Publix. Uh, it's going to be by Beltier and Palmost Parkway.

[00:15:10]5 minutes. Okay. Thank you.

[00:15:14]>> All right. What' you ask?

[00:15:17]She's doing fine. Yeah. Yeah. She was crying for a second, but she's she's happy. Her fiance's I'm still rolling.

[00:15:24]Her fiance is going to be here in um 5 minutes, he said. Okay. All right.

[00:15:28]>> The baby's father responded to the scene and took custody of the child. The Department of Children and Families was notified. Alexis King, aged 24, was arrested and charged with felony child neglect. On August 10th, 2021, King was accepted into a pre-trial intervention program. On March 14th, 2022, she successfully completed the program and the state attorney's office filed a Nolly Prosecu dismissing the charge. She was ordered to pay $250 in court costs which were paid in full. The case is now closed. This footage has been edited for time and clarity. Subscribe for more full police body cam footage.